The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide concluded with the delivery of its Final Report on 9 September 2024. All enquiries should now be directed to the Attorney-General's Department. See the contact page for more information.

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Royal Commission’s Final Report is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ chance to save veterans’

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide will today hand down its final report containing 122 recommendations to drive improved health and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel – and save lives.

The seven-volume report is the culmination of an exhaustive three-year inquiry which has examined cultural, structural and systemic issues contributing to alarming rates of suicide and suicidality among Australia's Defence and veteran population.

It will be delivered to the Governor-General by Commissioners Nick Kaldas APM, Dr Peggy Brown AO and the Hon James Douglas KC at 11:00 am today (Monday 9 September 2024).

At least 1,677 serving and ex-serving Defence personnel died by suicide between 1997 and 2021 – that's more than 20-times the number killed in active duty over the same period. On average, there have been three deaths of serving and ex-serving defence members by suicide every fortnight.

The Royal Commission also commissioned research that estimated one veteran has suicide-related contact with police and paramedics across Australia every four hours. Separate commissioned research found ex-serving men and women were more likely to be admitted to hospital for a self-harm-related diagnosis than other Australians.

It has been the lived experience of people who've been touched by military suicide, shared in public hearings, private sessions and written submissions, that has helped the Royal Commission to pinpoint the issues failing veterans, and their families.

Commission Chair Nick Kaldas said the Final Report is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save veterans' lives.

"This Government and future governments must take note of, and accept, the huge amount of evidence revealed through this Royal Commission," Commissioner Kaldas said. "The problems contributing to this national tragedy are now undeniable and must be dealt with, once and for all."

"From unacceptable behaviour, to sexual and other forms of abuse, to the disciplinary system being weaponised against those who complain, to inadequate transition arrangements, to delays and unfair treatment in the DVA claims processes, all of these factors have led to the trauma experienced by the thousands of people this inquiry has heard from.

"The Royal Commission has brought these issues to light and now, with the 122 recommendations in the Final Report, Government and its agencies, including the ADF and Departments of Defence and Veterans' Affairs, must work to turn the tide on Defence and veteran suicide," he said.

A key recommendation from the Final Report is the establishment of a permanent, powerful oversight body to monitor the implementation of the Royal Commission's recommendations – and maintain a keen focus on these issues moving forward.

Despite at least 57 previous inquiries relating to Defence and veteran suicide over the past 20 to 30 years, resulting in some 770 recommendations – there has been no improvement in suicide rates.

Mr Kaldas said it is clear there's been a catastrophic failure of leadership at all levels to prioritise the health and wellbeing of serving and ex-serving ADF members, and their families.

"Australia cannot afford for this Royal Commission's Final Report to end up on a shelf gathering dust," Commissioner Kaldas said. "We've provided Government a robust, evidence-based blueprint for real, meaningful and long-lasting reforms to drive improved health and wellbeing outcomes for our sailors, soldiers and aviators – and, ultimately, save veterans' lives."

Commissioner Peggy Brown said genuine leadership and accountability would be needed to address the suicide crisis – but external oversight was also critical.

"No matter how sincere their efforts, this is not a problem that Defence or DVA can be trusted to solve by themselves," Dr Brown said. "Earnest efforts to effect change, strong accountability and external oversight must be part of the picture going forward."

Commissioner Douglas stressed that the Royal Commission's recommendations will go a long way to building a stronger, more resilient and better ADF to meet Australia's Defence capability needs at a time of significant geopolitical uncertainty.

"My hope for the outcome of this Royal Commission is that we will have set in train a process that results in a significant drop in suicide rates in our military community," Commissioner Douglas said. "It should also have the effect that the ADF becomes both more cohesive and effective in its primary function of defending Australia and its national interests."

The Final Report will be published on the Royal Commission's website shortly after it is tabled by Government in Federal Parliament.

Since it was established in July 2021, the Royal Commission has:

  • hosted 12 public hearings with evidence from over 340 witnesses, including more than 60 people with lived experience of suicide and suicidality
  • conducted almost 900 private sessions, and
  • received more than 5,800 submissions.